The Biggest Number Math Game: A Fun Way to Teach Kids Comparing Numbers
Make math fun with the “Biggest Number” game! Using cards and counting cubes, your kids will love comparing numbers in this easy and hands-on activity that makes learning exciting.
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THE BIGGEST NUMBER MATH GAME: A FUN, EASY WAY TO COMPARE NUMBERS WITH YOUR KIDS
Letās be realāmath doesnāt always have to be a big, scary subject. Especially when youāre just starting out. If you want to lay a strong foundation for your kids in math, itās all about comparing numbers. And guess what? Itās way easier (and more fun) than it sounds. Introducing the Biggest Number Math Gameāa super simple, hands-on way to teach kids the magic of comparing numbers, all while having a blast. And the best part? It only takes a few materials you probably already have lying around. Letās dive in!
WHY COMPARING NUMBERS MATTERS (AND HOW TO MAKE IT FUN)
Before we get into the Biggest Number Math Game, letās take a second to understand why comparing numbers is so important. This simple skill is the backbone of all the other math concepts your child will learn as they grow. It helps them understand the difference between āmoreā and āless,ā ābiggerā and āsmaller,ā and it sets them up for things like addition, subtraction, and even multiplication later on.
But the truth is, comparing numbers doesnāt have to be a dry lesson from a textbook. With a little creativity (and a few counting cubes), it can be a fun, engaging game thatāll make your child want to practice math.
THE āBIGGEST NUMBER MATH GAMEā ā ITāS AS SIMPLE AS IT SOUNDS
Materials Needed:
- Counting cubes (the more colorful, the better)
- Jumbo playing cards (because size matters, right?)
- Painterās tape
- Permanent marker (for all the labeling fun)
How to Play:
- Grab a strip of painterās tape and stick it to a table or flat surface.
- Use your marker to label the tape from 1 to 10 in ascending order (yes, this is the easy part).
- Let your child use the counting cubes to build towers for each number. For example, for number 3, they stack 3 cubes. For number 7, you guessed itā7 cubes.
- Shuffle the jumbo playing cards and let your child pick two cards at a time.
- Flip over the cards to reveal two numbers. Now comes the fun part: have your child compare the height of the towers to figure out which number is bigger. Theyāll count the cubes in each tower to find the winner.
TAKING IT UP A NOTCH: THE āHIGHEST NUMBER MATH GAMEā
Feeling extra ambitious? You can expand the game to include bigger numbers (think up to 20 or more). This will help your child develop an even stronger sense of number value and get them used to seeing and comparing larger digits. Plus, theyāll feel like math rockstars when they tackle those higher numbers!
HELLO, PLACE VALUE!
As your child plays, theyāre learning more than just how to compare numbersātheyāre also starting to understand the concept of place value. The height of each tower represents the value of that number, so when they compare the towers, theyāre not just counting cubes, theyāre also comparing the magnitude of the numbers themselves. And thatās a big win for their math journey.
MATH PRACTICE BEYOND THE GAME
While the Biggest Number Math Game is a great introduction, it doesnāt have to end there. Look for everyday opportunities to reinforce comparing numbers. You can ask your child questions like, āHow many apples do you have compared to your sister?ā or āWhich pile of toys has more?ā These casual moments can reinforce the lesson and make comparing numbers part of daily life.
MATH MADE FUN
Hereās the best part: This game doesnāt feel like math. It feels like playing. The colorful counting cubes? Fun. The deck of cards? Exciting. The game itself? Engaging. And when kids are having fun, they donāt even realize theyāre learning. Itās a win-win.
THE BIGGEST NUMBER MATH GAMEāAN EASY WAY TO LEARN AT HOME
Hey, I’m Katelyn, the “Achievably Extra” Mom! Join me for creative family fun and practical tips! Let’s inspire each other!